This years IBMA Dobro Player of the Year nominees include Mike Auldridge (currently playing with Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac), Jerry Douglas, Phil Leadbetter (Grasstowne), Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), Rob Ickes (Blue Highway) and Randy Kohrs. Who will slide out front and claim the 2009 IBMA Dobro Player of the Year. think you know. Vote Now.

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The IBMA Awards Show takes place during the World Of Bluegrass Week on Thursday, October 1 at 7:30 pm (Central Time) at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

Mike Auldridge
“With his skill and his broad definition of the meaning of bluegrass music, Mike Auldridge became known over his multi-decade career as a master of the Dobro, or resonator guitar. Raised in Kensington, MD, he began playing guitar at 12, adding banjo when he was 16 and settling on Dobro at 17. He joined The Seldom Scene in 1971, and remained with that group through multiple personnel changes up until the mid-’90s, then later re-joined them on a part-time basis in 2002.” Mike is currently a member of Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac. LegendsOfThePotomac.com

Jerry Douglas
“Jerry Douglas is widely renowned as perhaps the finest dobro player in contemporary acoustic music. His main foundation is bluegrass, but Douglas is an eclectic whose tastes run toward jazz, blues, folk, and straight-ahead country as well, and he’s equally capable of appealing to bluegrass aficionados or new agers with a taste for instrumental roots music.” AllMusic.com

Andy Hall
“Andy Hall plays and sings with excitement, passion, precision and a dynamic that is quickly establishing him as one of the top players in acoustic music today. Based in Nashville, TN, he plays resophonic guitar (dobro), guitar and sings lead, tenor and baritone vocal harmony parts. Andy is currently a member of the new acoustic band The Infamous Stringdusters, and is touring extensivley with the group…” Andy Hall on MySpace

Rob Ickes
“in 1992, Rob’s career took off, and has continued to be a busy and successful one. Rob is a founding member of the Bluegrass Supergroup, “Blue Highway,” one of the fastest rising groups in the genre. Aside from his work with “Blue Highway,” Rob has also been busy as a session player in Nashville. In 1996 Rob was on two Grammy winning recordings: Alison Krauss and the Cox Family’s, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” and the all-star Dobro release produced by Jerry Douglas, “The Great Dobro Sessions.” RobIckes.com

Randy Kohrs
“Kohrs has long been celebrated for his inventive, mood-setting work as a dobroist (that’s him providing the dramatic framework on Dierks Bentley’s No. 1 hit, “What Was I Thinking.”) But his flashes of instrumental wizardry have often diverted attention from his wider musicianship. Throughout his touring career, Kohrs has gained much success as a top Nashville session musician. To date, he has played on more than 500 albums… RandyKohrs.com

Phil Leadbetter
“In December 2006, Phil Leadbetter joined forces with Steve Gulley and Alan Bibey to form the bluegrass super-group Grasstowne. The group’s 1st CD was released in Fall of 2007 and charted at #1 for 3 straight months on the Bluegrass Unlimited’s National Bluegrass Chart. The single “Dixie Flyer” also charted 2 straight months at #1 on the singles chart. The CD hit the top of many other charts including The Bluegrass Music Profiles” UnclePhilOnline.com

Have you missed our other IBMA Awards Reader’s polls?

• Stop fiddlin’ around! Vote for the IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year. *Michael Cleveland (58%)
• Who’s on a roll? Vote for the ‘09 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year. *Kristin Scott Benson (33%)
• IBMA Bass Player of the Year Reader’s Poll *Darrin Vincent (37% & Missy Raines (35%) are neck and neck
• IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Reader’s Poll *Josh Williams (34%) & Kenny Smith (30%) are close
• IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year Reader’s Poll *Jesse Brock (29%)

* Current leader(s) (percentage of vote) as of publishing time